NOVENA TO THE HOLY FOURTEEN HELPERS

Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory; have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain for me from God, for Whom you gave up all things and Who loves you as His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, Whose beatific vision you enjoy, and Whom you praise and glorify forever. Amen.

Meditation: The practice of honouring and invoking the saints to obtain, through their intercession, help in the various needs of body and soul, is as old as the Church. At what period, however, the custom of having recourse to the fourteen saints called Holy Helpers originated, is unknown. Nevertheless, it is certain that each one of them was invoked for his intercession with God since his entrance into heaven. Prayer is the Christian's resource in every difficulty: and difficulties and trials are never wanting on earth. Because the needs of mankind on earth are various, the faithful selected certain saints as intercessors in certain cases of distress, and obtained relief; hence these saints came to be regarded as special patrons in such trials, and were called Holy Helpers.

Practice: Make this novena with full confidence in the power of the intercession of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. During their earthly life they devoted their whole energy to the spreading of God's kingdom and the relief and succour of their fellow-men. Much more efficiently can they do so now when they are in the enjoyment of eternal happiness, and can supplicate for us at the very throne of God. The saints can help us through their intercession. God hears their prayers and He wrought miracles to confirm us in this belief, even whilst His servants sojourned here on earth. They desire and are willing to help us. St. Bernard says: "In heaven hearts do not grow cold; they are rather rendered more affectionate and tender. By receiving the crown of justice the saints were not hardened against the sufferings of their brethren on earth." Therefore, in calling on them, have full confidence in their power and ability to come to your aid.

Prayer: We beseech Thee, O Lord, to hear the prayer which we send up to Thee in honour of Thy glorified servants, the Fourteen Holy Helpers: and as we cannot rely upon our own justice, grant our petition through the intercession of those whose merits have made them especially dear to Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, queen of martyrs,

pray for us*

St. Joseph, helper in all needs,*

Fourteen Holy Helpers,*

St. George, valiant martyr of Christ,*

St. Blase, zealous bishop and benefactor of the poor,*

St. Erasmus, mighty protector of the oppressed,*

St. Pantaleon, miraculous exemplar of charity,*

St. Vitus, special protector of chastity,*

St. Christophorus, mighty intercessor in dangers,*

St. Dionysius, shining mirror of faith and confidence,*

St. Cyriacus, terror of hell,*

St. Achatius, helpful advocate in death,*

St. Eustachius, exemplar of patience in adversity,*

St. Giles, despiser of the world,*

St. Margaret, valiant champion of the Faith,*

St. Catherine, victorious defender of the Faith and of purity,*

St. Barbara, mighty patroness of the dying,*

All ye Holy Helpers,*

All ye saints of God,*

In temptations against faith,*

In adversity and trials,*

In anxiety and want,*

In every combat,*

In every temptation,*

In sickness,*

In all needs,*

In fear and terror,*

In dangers of salvation,*

In dangers of honor,*

In dangers of reputation,*

In dangers of property,*

In dangers by fire and water,*

Be merciful, spare us, O Lord!

Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord!

From all sin,

Deliver us, O Lord.**

From Thy wrath,**

From the scourge of earthquake,**

From plague, famine, and war,**

From lightning and storms,**

From a sudden and unprovided death,**

From eternal damnation,**

Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation,**

Through Thy birth and Thy life,**

Through Thy cross and passion,**

Through Thy death and burial,**

Through the merits of Thy blessed Mother Mary,**

Through the merits of the Fourteen Holy Helpers,**

On the Day of Judgment, deliver us, O Lord!**

We sinners, beseech Thee, hear us.**

That Thou spare us,

We beseech Thee, hear us.***

That Thou pardon us,***

That Thou convert us to true penance,***

That Thou give and preserve the fruits of the earth,***

That Thou protect and propagate Thy holy Church,***

That Thou preserve peace and concord among the nations, ***

That Thou give eternal rest to the souls of the departed,***

That Thou come to our aid through the intercession of the Holy Helpers, ***

That through the intercession of St. George Thou preserve us in the Faith, ***

That through the intercession of St. Blase Thou confirm us in hope, ***

That through the intercession of St. Erasmus Thou enkindle in us Thy holy love,***

That through the intercession of St. Pantaleon Thou give us charity for our neighbour,***

That through the intercession of St. Vitus Thou teach us the value of our soul, ***

That through the intercession of St. Christophorus Thou preserve us from sin, ***

That through the intercession of St. Dionysius Thou give us tranquillity of conscience, ***

That through the intercession of St. Cyriacus Thou grant us resignation to Thy holy will,***

That through the intercession of St. Eustachius Thou give us patience in adversity, ***

That through the intercession of St. Achatius Thou grant us a happy death, ***

That through the intercession of St. Giles Thou grant us a merciful judgment, ***

That through the intercession of St. Margaret Thou preserve us from hell, ***

That through the intercession of St. Catherine Thou shorten our purgatory, ***

That through the intercession of St. Barbara Thou receive us in heaven, ***

That through the intercession of all the Holy Helpers Thou wilt grant our prayers, ***

O God, who didst miraculously fortify the Fourteen Holy Helpers in the confession of the Faith; grant us, we beseech Thee, to imitate their fortitude in overcoming all temptations against it, and protect us through their intercession in all dangers of soul and body, so that we may serve Thee in purity of heart and chastity of body. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Invocation of the Holy Helpers

Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven; because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life. Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.

Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven, there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.